The Schaffer Jar. Rochester N.Y. JCS (Monogram)

The Schaffer Jar

Rochester N.Y.

JCS (Monogram)

Jacob C. Schaffer, Rochester, New York

Aquamarine Pint

Provenance: Phil Smith Collection

The patentee for “The Schaffer Jar” was Jacob C. Schaffer of Rochester, New York. The jar maker is uncertain but may have been the Rochester Glass Works of Rochester, New York.

This compact pint aquamarine jar is embossed on the face ‘THE SCHAFFER JAR’ in three lines of centered sans-serif copy. “Schaffer” is on the second line and arched down. Beneath the jar name is two lines of copy embossed ‘ROCHESTER N. Y.’ “Rochester” in under-arched to visibly connect as an oval with the convex “Schaffer” copy above. A decorative embossed ‘JCS’ monogram is positioned on the reverse of the jar. The smooth base of the jar may have a backward embossed number ‘1.’

The jar is hand blown with the ground lip. The odd closure is a top seal straddle lip glass lid held down by a coiled spring wire clamp. The jar is found in pints, quarts, and half-gallons. Three glass lids are reported: 1) Embossed ‘PAT. JULY 1 79’ Large dome-shaped projection in the center with a wide flat surface and transverse groove to hold the wire clamp. 2) ‘PATENTED JULY 1, 1879’ with a raised central fin with notches. 3) Unembossed with a raised fin in the center with two perpendicular supporting fins.

Jacob C. Schaffer was born on February 8, 1819, in Germany. There are scant records of his youth, but by 1871 he was in America working as a glass mold manufacturer at 3 Hill Street and boarding at 168 Plymouth Avenue in Rochester, New York. As the proprietor of his own business, he placed an advertisement in 1872 city directory saying he was making “Every description of Moulds used in the manufacture of Glass, Britannia, Rubber, Etc., Made to order. Soap Moulds and Dies. Also Presses for Glass Manufacturers. Mr. Schaffer has had issued to him Letters Patent for the manner of fastening Green House Moulds which does away with the old method of fastening with bolts, and therefore avoids expansion and contraction (i.e.), the bottoms of his Moulds are fastened with dovetails.” There was also a John Schaffer, his brother, working at Vacuum Oil Works living with Jacob at the same Hill Street address.

3 Hill Street was next to Badger Machine Works, located at No 4 and 6 Hill Street in Rochester. An 1868 Rochester City Directory listing said that A. M. Badger was a “manufacturer of all kinds of Barrel Machinery, consisting of Dougherty’s Patent Shingle and Heading Saw. Machine, Heading Turners with improvements, Planers, Jointers, Stave Machines, Equalizers, Saw Mandrels, &c. All kinds of Line Shafting, Pullies and Job Work made to order, also Furnace Castings of best quality iron.”

By 1877, Jacob C. Schaffer had taken over Badger Machine Works, and his new city directory occupation was “mould maker and machinist.” His new advertisements said, “Every description of Moulds used in the manufacture of Glass, Britannia, Rubber, etc., Made to Order. Soap Moulds and Dies. Also, Presses for Glass Manufacturers. Our Moulds are Patented. Manufacture of Improved Hoisting Machinery, Freight Elevators, &c., For Stores, Warehouses, Factories, &c. Also Manufacturer of Hydrostatic Presses, of from 100 to 500 tons pressure, designed for all purposes where great pressure is required. Lawn Mowers of all kinds Repaired, Extra pieces from the Manufacturers constantly on hand and furnished at the Manufacturer’s Prices. Job work promptly attended to.” The business would prosper and move to 129 Mill Street, where Jacob worked until his death on January 1, 1890.

Primary Image: The Schaffer Jar, Rochester, N.Y. JCS (Monogram). imaged on location by Alan DeMaison, FOHBC Virtual Museum Midwest Studio.

Support Image: Auction Lot 89: “THE / SCHAFFER / JAR / ROCHESTER / N. Y.” – “JCS” monogram, probably a Western New York State glasshouse, possibly Rochester Glass Works, Rochester, NY, 1879 – 1890. Aquamarine, cylindrical with ground lip, glass lid with raised cross fins – smooth base, Pt., both jar and lid are attic mint! RB# 2562. – John Pastor, American Glass Gallery, Auction #20

Support Image: Auction Lot 14360: THE SCHAFFER JAR ROCHESTER N.Y. Quart. Aquamarine, Closure original domed glass lid and original wire clamp assembly. Trace of content haze. Edge flaking on the ground mouth with some not yet detached. Base: “1”, late 1800’s – Greg Spurgeon, North American Glass, April 2017

Support Image: Auction Lot 1218: THE SCHAFFER JAR ROCHESTER NY Aqua Half Gallon, Aquamarine. Correct original dual-finned glass lid and original 2-piece wire bail clamp. Sparkling, No damage except for flaking off the ground mouth. Strength of embossing: strong Base: “2” embossed backwards Age: late 1800’s Availability: scarce and a fine complete example – Greg Spurgeon, North American Glass

Support Image: Auction Lot 737: THE SCHAFFER JAR, An aqua quart odd-closured jar that is embossed on the front: “THE SCHAFFER JAR ROCHESTER NY” and on the reverse side with a “JCS” logo as shown. Clean glass without damage or stains. Has some light scratches inside. The ground rim has edge flaking. Comes with the correct original dome-shaped glass lid and original shaped iron wire clamp arrangement. The bottom edge of the lid has some thin chipping. Base: a backward-embossed “4”. – Greg Spurgeon, North American Glass, January 2009

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